Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee

The Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee was formed in 2013 following a review of the Archaeology function at Historic Scotland.

Remit (revised 2016)

The Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee (SSAC) will be an informal group, representing key partners / interests, to help with the development and delivery of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy.

Community excavation Pailbe (copyright Tom Dawson)

Aims

The aims of the SSAC are to:

Help create, promote and deliver Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy

Offer advice and guidance to the Archaeology Team within Historic Environment Scotland

Represent key areas of expertise in the sector

Objectives

Key areas to be supported by the Committee include:

Development and promotion of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy

Development of a regularly updated implementation plan

Oversight of delivery

Discussion of timescales, funding and priorities for areas to be addressed

Membership

The SSAC will include members with expertise in the following key areas:

Archaeological Science

Commercial Archaeology

Clients / Development interests

Community / Voluntary Archaeology

Education and Archaeology

Land Management

Local Authority Archaeology

Museums (including the National Museums Scotland)

The Professional Institution (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)

University Archaeology

Others as deemed appropriate

There will be links to the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF), and also to the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) when appropriate. Committee members can represent multiple areas on the committee. Others will be invited to attend as necessary, particularly representatives of relevant working groups.

Committee members will serve 4 year terms – although the first group of committee members will serve between 2-5 years to ensure that there isn’t a sudden change of membership 4 years after starting. Members will only serve one term to ensure regular change of personnel and dynamism to the committee.

The Chair will come from within the committee but not be a member of HES staff. HES will provide necessary administrative support to the Chair.

Governance

The Group will consider its progress against its remit and report to the Chief Executive of HES on an annual basis, recognising HES’s lead role in the delivery of Our Place in Time. It will liaise with the relevant groups of Going Further as necessary.